AMBG Senior Cyber Defense Architect

What you’ll do:  

Thought leadership and market presence 

• Develop a clear point of view on unified security operations, Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR, MXDR and AI-enabled cyber defence. 
• Create compelling client-facing narratives, reference architectures and reusable assets that help position Avanade as a leading Microsoft Security partner. 
• Represent AMBG Security in senior client conversations, Microsoft engagements, industry forums and internal leadership discussions. 

Sales, solutioning and delivery 

• Lead cyber defence solutioning for complex Microsoft Security opportunities, balancing technical quality, delivery feasibility and commercial outcomes. 
• Translate client pain points into practical roadmaps covering SIEM and XDR integration, Defender deployment, Sentinel optimisation, automation, use case engineering and managed detection and response. 
• Provide delivery assurance for major engagements and ensure architectural decisions support measurable security outcomes. 

Offerings and capability development 

• Create and evolve repeatable offerings for Sentinel modernisation, Defender XDR integration, MXDR mobilisation, SOC optimisation, attack path-informed detection and managed security services. 
• Build the skills, methods and quality standards required for AMBG Security to deliver cyber defence work consistently at enterprise scale. 
• Identify new market opportunities created by Microsoft Security platform changes, client consolidation pressures and managed service growth. 

Leadership and collaboration 

• Influence across a highly matrixed organisation, working with Avanade, Accenture and Microsoft stakeholders to progress strategic opportunities. 
• Coach and guide architects and consultants, strengthening technical depth, client presence and commercial confidence across the team. 
• Contribute to an inclusive, high-performance culture that attracts, develops and retains strong security talent. 

Skills and experiences

• Extensive experience leading Microsoft cyber defence, SOC modernisation, SIEM, XDR, MXDR or managed security services programmes for enterprise clients. 
• Deep hands-on and architectural knowledge of Microsoft Sentinel, including data connectors, analytics rules, automation, workbooks, KQL, content management, cost optimisation and operational governance. 
• Strong expertise across Microsoft Defender XDR and the Microsoft Defender suite, including Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Identity, Defender for Office 365 and Defender for Cloud Apps. 
• Ability to design integrated SIEM and XDR architectures that improve detection, triage, investigation, response, hunting and reporting across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. 
• Credible experience with SOC operating models, threat-led use case development, detection engineering, incident response processes, SOAR playbooks and service transition into managed operations. 
• Strong commercial and client-facing skills, with the ability to engage CISOs, security operations leaders, infrastructure leaders and procurement stakeholders. 
• Proven ability to shape complex opportunities, create clear solution narratives, estimate delivery effort, manage risk and support sales conversion. 
• Experience creating new offerings from ideation through to market launch, including assets, accelerators, delivery methods and enablement material. 
• Advanced Microsoft Security certifications such as SC-100 and SC-200. SC-300, AZ-500 or related Microsoft certifications are beneficial. 
• Industry-recognised certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CCSP, GIAC or equivalent are beneficial. 
• Familiarity with relevant frameworks and standards such as MITRE ATT&CK, NIST CSF, ISO 27001, GDPR and SOC operating model good practice. 
• Ability to lead in a matrixed environment, build followership and develop people while maintaining a strong focus on growth, delivery quality and client outcomes. 

About you  

• You are a senior cyber defence leader who can operate comfortably between board-level security strategy and detailed platform architecture. 
• You understand how enterprise SOC teams actually operate, where tooling programmes fail, and how to turn Microsoft Security capability into measurable operational improvement. 
• You can lead high-value client conversations with authority, simplify complex technical choices and create confidence with executive stakeholders. 
• You are commercially minded, delivery-aware and able to build solutions that Avanade can sell, deliver and scale safely. 
• You invest in others, share knowledge openly and help build a strong, inclusive cyber defence capability across AMBG Security. 

Measures of success

• Growth in qualified and converted cyber defence pipeline across AMBG Security. 
• Successful delivery of Sentinel, Defender XDR, MXDR and managed security services engagements with strong client satisfaction. 
• Clear, reusable AMBG cyber defence offerings and assets that accelerate sales and improve delivery consistency. 
• Improved capability depth across the team, including certifications, delivery methods and architectural quality. 
• Stronger strategic relationships with client security leaders, Microsoft, Accenture and Avanade stakeholders. 

Enjoy your career  

Some of the best things about working at Avanade and AMBG: 

• Opportunity to work for Microsoft's Global Alliance Partner of the Year, with exceptional development and training, including paid certifications. 
• Real-time access to technical and skilled resources globally. 
• A dedicated career advisor to encourage your growth. 
• Engaged and helpful colleagues who are genuinely interested in you. 
• The opportunity to work on some of the largest and most cutting-edge Microsoft Security engagements in the world.